Trolley apparatus



Dec. 28 1926.

E. J. G. PHILLIPS TROLLEY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Feb.

I 5 I I ufiznm 62a. M W.

mm. Wm.

Patented Dec. '28, 1926.

L bllliED STATES PATENT ELLIS J. G. ?HILLIPS, OE AURORA, ZLLENGIS, ASSZGITGR TO BICHARDS-WILCOX EIAHU- EACTUEIIEG COFIPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CO EORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRGLLEY APPARATUS.

- Application fiIed February 7. 1925.

My invention relates to apparatus for transporting articles from one point to another, particularly in factories, warehouses, etc, by the use of trolleys running on tracks, and has to do especially with trolley systems designed for use in situations where the articles handled are to be lowered from the tracl: level at some stage of the course traveled by them, as, for example, where they are to be painted by dipping them into a tank containing paint and then conveyed to some other point where they may dry while still carried by the trolley, a practice quite common in agricultural implement and other factories. The object or my invention is to provide an in'iproved trolley apparatus, of such character that a number of trolleys. each carrying its lead, may be conducted in succession to the point where their loads are to be lowered for treatment, and after the treatment has been administered, in:: be returned to the track level and cnnduc l away thereon, without danger of accicu ntally dai'i'iaging the articles that are being handled. To this end it consists in providing a suitable track for supporting and conducting a plurality of trolleys, and providing such track with a section capable of being raised and lowered with one or more of the trolleys upon it, and at the same time providing automatically controlled slop devices which will operate to prevent the trolleys from running off either end of the n'iovable section of track or the abutting; ends of the stationary track sections. 1 accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. lVhat. I regard as new is set forth in the claims.

in the drawings, in which I have shown my invention applied to a track of the Lbeam type designed for use with lJ-shaped trolleys having wheels running on the lower horizontal flanges of the I-beam at opposite sides of the vertical web thereof,

Fig. l is a side view of a portion of a tmlley track that comprises a section movable vertically into or out of alinement with stationary track sections, the parts being in their normal position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the movble track section lowered with a trolley supported by it;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in 1, some parts being broken away;

Serial No. 7,614.

F ig. t is a detail, being a vertical crosssection on line l -4 of F ig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view with the parts disposed as they are shown inFig. 2; 1

Fig. 6 1S a perspective view with the parts arranged as they are shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of one end portion of the movable track section.

Referring to the drawings,-8, 9 indicate stationary track members that are securely mounted in any suitable way so that they form parts of a trolley track. Said members, in the form illustrated, are made of I-beams, the central web of which is indicated by 10, the two lower flanges on which the wheels of the trolley run by 11, 12, and the two upper flanges by 13, 14, as best shown in Fig. 5. The track members 8, 9 are alined, and as best shown in Fig. 2, they are spaced apart, their adjacent ends beinginclined so that they diverge downwardly, as shown at 15, 16 in said figure. At their upper sides they are securely connected together by a beam 17, preferably of wood, the end portions of which rest on plates 18, 19 and 20, 21, the plates 18, 19 being interposed between one end of the beam 17 and the track member 8, and the plates 20, 21

being similarly disposed between the other end of the beam 17 and the track member 9. The beam 17 is secured to the track member and to said plates by bolts 22, 23, or in any other suitable way. By this construction said beam bridges the gap between the track H161 ibers 8, 9, and is supported a short distance above the upper surfaces of said track members, the purpose of which arrangement will be hereinafter pointed out.

Arranged to fit snugly between the track members 8, 9, and to register therewith, is a vertically movable track section 24 which is also of I-beam construction. The ends of said track section 24 are inclined, as shown at 25, 26, to match the beveled ends of the track members 8, 9, by which arrangement when the movable track section is raised to its normal position it will fit closely between the track members 8, 9 and cannot be lifted beyond such position, but will be free at all times to be lowered out of engagement with the stationary track members. At its upper side the track section 2% is provided with a horizontal plate 27 which is fixedly secured thereto and projects laterally beyond each ill) of the upper flanges thereof. Also at one end said plate is provided with a portion 28 that extend longitudinally beyond the upper flange at one side of said track section, and at the other end it is provided with a similar projecting port-ion 29that extends longitudinally beyond the upper flange at the opposite side thereof. This arrangement is best shown at the lower portion of Fi 5. The extensions 28, 29 function as arms to hold up steps that protect the end portions of the stationary track members 8, 9, and also to move them out of operative position, as will be hereinafter described.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the track section 2 is intended'to operate either as a continuation of the stationary track members 8, 9, or as a vertically mov able support that may be lowered from its normal position to permit the load sustained thereby to be dipped in a paint bath, or to be lowered for any other desired purpose,

as, for example, to deposit it on a truck or on the floor. To this end the track section 2% is sustained by cables 30,31 connected to it adjacent to its ends, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and extending upward through suitable passages 32, 33 in the beam 17 to hoisting inechanisi'n of any appropriate kind. In practice a single cable can well be used, a loop of the cable being connected with the track section 24 by clips 3%, 35, 36, as shown in Fig. 2, and the end portions of said cable being connected with the hoisting devices. By this construction the track section .24 is held level while being raised or lowered, and the gu de passages 3'2, 3'3 serve to prevent excessive lateral or end'wise swinging thereof. By inclining the ends of the track sections 8, 9 and 2% as described, when the track t -on l is hauled up to its normal position, should it have swung endwise from its p'oper position in either direction, it will be guided to such position by the coact-ing inclined surfaces 15, 25 and 16, 26. For guiding the track sect-ionv 24 laterally into its proper position when it is being raised, the beam 17 is providedwith one or more, preterably two, guides 37, 38 in the form of in verted il -shaped plates having outwardly inclined lower ends 39, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and S. The vertical portions 40 of these guides are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the plate 27 carried by the movable track section 2 1-, as shown in Fig. 6, and consequently said guides prevent lateral movement of said track section when it is in its raised position. so the inclined lower ends 39 of said guides, through their engagement wit-h the side ma; ins ot the plate 27. should it be out of its proper position while being hoisted. direct said track section as it rises into alinewen with the stationary track sections 8. 9. By this means the proper alinement of the movable track section 24 with the other track sections is assured.

To protect the end portions of the stationary track sections 8. 9 at opposite sides of the gap when the movable track section 24 is lowered, and prevent trolleys carried by said stationary track sections from running olfatthe gap, swinging stops a1, 42 are provided, one of said "stops being associated with each of said track sections 8, 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These stops are alike, and are inthe form of plates pivoted at opposite sides and at opposite ends of the beam 17 by means of bolts as, 4:4: in such manner that they are adapted to swing vertirally in planes parallel with the track sections 8, 9. Flhen said stops are in their operative position they extend down in position-to intercept a trolley running on the stationary track section with which they are associated, illustrated in Figs. 2* and 5. but normally they are held up out of operative position so that they do not interfere with the passage of the trolleys along the track, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. The stop plates 41, 42 are best made of the shape shown in the drawings, being provided with a straight-edge 45 that is approximately vertical when the stop plate is in its operative position, a straight-edge l6 that is sub"- stantially parallel with the edge E5 and lies at the opposite margin of the plate and somewhat closer to its pivot, and an inclined edge at? disposed between the edges l5 and L6. The edge 45 is that which is adapted to intercept a trolley on the adjacent stationary track section and prevent it from moving toward the gap. The edge 46 is ad pted to cooperate with one or the other or laterally projecting lugs e8, l9

Ln ried respectively by the plates 19, 21, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the lower ends of the stop plates 41. e2 are prevented from swinging toward the gap between the stationary tract: sections after they assume their operative position. At the right in Fig. 2 the stop plate a1 is shown in its operative position with its edge 41:6 in en oment with the lug 48. The inclined ed intended to cooperate with the extension 28 or 29, as the case may be, when the movable track section is being hoisted to its normal position to raise the stop p tes ll, 452 to their inoperative position. I .l'erring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that ercten -zion' underlies the inclined int- :gin ll or the stop plate 41 when the latter is in its operative position and the movable track settion 2a is lowered. it will be evident. therefore, that when said track section is raised high tough. the extension will strike the inclined edge 47. thereby causing the stp plate ll to swing -ounter-clo=cliwise the track section Q l until finally by the time said track section reaches its normal lllii till position in alinement with the stationary track sections 8, 9 the stop plate 41 will have been raised to the position shown in Fig. 1. leaving the track free for the passage of trolleys. At that time the edge 46 of the stop plate will rest on the extension 28 and be supported by it. A similar operation takes place at the other end of the movable track section. lVhen the movable track section 24 is lowered, the stop plates 41, 42 are permitted to drop to their operative position, when their edges abut against the lugs 48, 49, as above described, thereby preventing them from swinging towards the gap between the stationary track sections after they have reached their operative position. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the position of the stop plates 41, 42 is automatically controlled by the movement of the movable track section, and that the stationary track sections at opposite sides of the gap are always protected so that trolleys on either of said track sections can not run off accidentally when the intermediate or movable track section is out of its operative position. The shape of the stop plates 41, 42 may be varied considerably, as while I prefer to make them of the shape shown and described. they may be of any other suitable shape calculated to permit them to function as described.

It is also desirable that means be provided for preventing the trolley or trolleys carried by the movable track section 24 from running off such section when it is out of its operative position, and to this end said track section is provided with stops 50, 51 at its opposite ends associated with its lower flanges 11, 12. These stops extend longitudinally of the track section 24 and are pivoted between their ends on transverse pivots 52 secured to the track section 24 in any suitable way, as by hearing plates 53, the arrangement being such that said stops may swing vertically to a limited extent. The pivots 52 are located near the lower ends of the track section 24, and the stops 50, 51 are provided with V-shaped portions 54 that extend beyond the ends of said track section, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The opposite ends 55 of said stops are somewhat longer and heavier than the ends 54, so that they overbalance the ends 54 and therefore tend to throw the latter ends up somewhat above the level of the lower surface of the track section 24. Excessive downward movement of the ends 55 is prevented by the engagement of the ends 54 with the end portions of the track section 24, as illustrated in 2, the upper surfaces of the ends 54 being preferably notched slightly to receive the end margins of the track section 24, as indicated at 56 in Fig. 2. Obviously when the track section 24 is raised to its normal position, the projecting ends 54 of the stops 51, 52 will strike the lower margins of the stationary track sections 8, 9 and be moved downward, thereby raising the inner or opposite ends of said stops to a position parallel with the lower surface of the track section 24, as illustrated in Fig. 1. When, however, the track section 24 is lowered, the weight of the inner ends of said stops will cause them to swing downward to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a trolley 57 in position on the track section 24, and it will be obvious that the inner ends 55 of the stops 50, 51 are adapted to intercept the trolley should it be about to run off either end of said track section, thereby preventing it from doing so. Preferably the flanges 11, 12 of the track section'24 are recessed, as shown at 58 in Fig. 5, to center the trolley on said track section, as it is obviously desirable to keep the weight as near the longitudinal center of the movable track sect-ion as possible while it is being raised or lowered.

The beam 17 is spaced from the track sections by the plates 18,. 20 to accommodate the plate 27 and the transverse portions of the guides 37, 38, the intermediate portion of said beam at the underside thereof being preferably cut away, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide more room for said guides and also for the horizontal portion of the hoisting cable 30.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trolley apparatus comprising two stationary track sect-ions having end portions spaced apart, an overhead beam connecting said stationary track sections, a vertically movable track section adapted to fit between and connect said stationary track sect-ions, lateral guides supported by said beam and disposed at opposite sides of said track sections for directing said movable track section into operative relation with said stationary track sections, safety stops associated with i118 end portions of said stationary track sections and movable into position to block the same, and means for moving said stops out of operative position when said movable track section is moved into operative relation with said stationary track sections.

2. A trolley apparatus comprising two stationary track sections having end portions spaced apart, a vertically movable track section adapted to fit between and connect said stationary track sections, safety stops associated with the end portions of said stationary track sections and movable into position to block-the same, vertically swinging safety stops associated with the end portions of said movable track section and havmg members adapted to engage said stationary track sectlons when the movable track section is moved into operative relation therewith, and to be actuated thereby to move the latter stops out of operative position, and means carried by said movable track section for moving said first-mentioned stops out of operative relation to said stationary track sections when the movable track section is moved into operative relation with said stationary track sections.

A trolley apparatus comprising two stationary E-bea-m track sections having end portions spaced apart, a vertically movable l-beam' track section adapted to lit between and connect said stationary track sections,

vertically swinging sa'i'ety stops associated with tl'ie end portions 05 said stationary track sections and adapted to swing by gravity into position to block the same, vertically swinging safety stops at the end portions of said movable track section and arranged to drop b T gravity below the lower margin thereof to block the same, the latter stops having members adapted to engage the lower marginal portions of said stationary track sections, and to be actuated thereby when said movable track section is moved into operative relation therewith to move the latter steps out of operative position, and means carried by said movable track section for moving said first-mentioned stops out of operative position when said movable track section is moved into operative relation with said stationary tract section.

l. A trolley apparatus comprising stationary track sections having end portions spaced apart, a beam connecting said track sections, a vertically movable track section adapted to tit between and connect said stationary tracl; sections, a cable extemling through vertical passages in said bean-1 and connected wit 1 the end portions said iovable track section, and lateral guides for said movable tracl-z section carried by said beam. A trolley apparatus comprising two stationary ti; ck sections having end portions spaced apart, an overhead beam con necting' said stationary track sections, a vertically movable track section adapted to fit between and connect said stationary track sections, means for raising and lowering said movable track sections, and guide means supported by said beam for directing said movable track section into operat rela tion with said stationary track sections.

6. A. trolley apparatus com-prising two stationary track sections having end portions spaced apart, an, overhead beam connecting; said stationary track s ctions, a vertically movable tracl: section adapted to lit between and connect said stationary track sections. cable means for raising and loweringr said movable track section, and guide two means associated with said overhead beam for guiding said cable means.

7. A trolley apparatus con'iprising two stationary track sections having end portions spaced apart, a beam connecting said track sections, a vertically movable track section adapted to fit between and connect said stationary tracl: sections, and a safety stop associated with said stationary track section and actuated to move into and out of operative position by movement of said movable track section out of or into operative relation with said stationary track sections.

8. A trolley apparatus comprising two stationary track sections having end portions spaced apart, a beam connecting said track sections, a vertically movable tracl: section adapted to fit between and connect said stationary track sect-ions, and a safety stop associated with said movable track section and actuated to move into or out of operative position by movement of said movable track section out of or into operative relation to said stationary track sections.

9. A trolley apparatus comprising a stationary track section, a track section movable vertically into and out of alinement therewith, and a safety stop movably supported adjacent the lower of said movable track section and comprising a stop portion adapted to project down below the bottom o t said movabl track section for blocking movement or? the trolley.

10. A trolley apparatus comprising a stationary track member l beam section, a similar vertically movable track member adapted to aline tl-lQiGX-Vltll, and a satiety stop pivotally supported on said movable track member and comprising a stop portion adapted to project below the bottom of said movable track member, said safety stop beingmovable into and out or opera tive position by the movement of said movable track member out of or into operative relation to said stationary t'acl; member.

11. A trolley apparatus compris ng a stationary track member o l Tl beam section. a similar vertically movable tracl-t member adapted to aline therewith, and safety stops pivot-ally supported at each end of said movable track member, each of said sa'rety stops comprising a stop portion adapted to move into the. path of a trolley on said movable track member, said safety stops being movable into and out of operative position by the movement of s. id movable track member out of or into operative relation to said stationary track member.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPQ. 

